Coventry Workhouses

Thankfully it had ceased to be a workhouse long before then. (Some student nurses of the period might disagree though?). I may be the only one here who remembers but there was still a Salvation Army hostel complex on the site housing some of the most vulnerable members of the community? In particular there was the Roland family who occupied a derelict detached house on the corner of Whiterfriars Street and Gulson Road. (Technically, it was Much Park Street but no longer recognisable as such). The Roland family was so huge they stayed aloof from the "Whitefriars Street Gang" as they virtually constituted a "gang" of their own! They were eventually rehoused in Godiva Street.

Hi. This area figured greatly in my boyhood days as my great gran lived in Whitefriars St 2 court 5 house. My bus stop to go home Gosford Green was adjacent to the doorway of the hostel. I often chatted to some of the residents of the hostel whilst waiting for the Inner Circle to go home. I used to think what an unfortunate lot they had living there. One fellow I nicknamed Faggie, as he had a tin in which he used to collect cigarette ends, these would be stripped down and the baccy put into his tin until he had enough for a roll up. Across the road was a pub The Salutation of all names, they seemed to frequent, next door a paper shop where I bought my comics. Wish I had saved first copy of The Eagle. I remember the house adjacent to another pub The White Friar but never came knowingly into contact with the Rowlands. Another intrigue was watching George Cox sitting in the window of the cycle shop truing bicycle wheels.

The White Friar and Salutation had already gone by the time I arrived in the area. The Rolands' house was on the opposite side Whitefriars Street from where the White Friar had been and isolated from any other buildings. The site formerly occupied by the White Friar had become a paper recycling yard and the Salutation replaced by a huge roundabout. Work had already started on a road to cut across the remains of the Abbey but was abruptly halted while traffic studies were analysed and the route resurveyed.

Yes, I saw on the plan that the Sally Army were on the site as well. You have some fascinating memories, Dutchman. Whereabouts were you living at that time?

Gosford Street Anne. Our garden backed onto Whitefriars Lane so that entire area was effectively my backyard and playground

Very interesting!

We have covered Foleshill Workhouse in other topics which now don't seem suitable so perhaps someone will do some subtle adjustments to the posts. In 1859 the Foleshill workhouse moved from Brick Kiln Lane (Broad Street) to a new site close to what is Foleshill Fire Station. (Off topic but does anyone, but me, remember the Fire Station when it was in Holmsdale Road?) There is some heavy workhouse research being done by Mrs Heritage and the following has come to light from some 1859 workhouse minutes. Mr. Neale and Mr. Calloway reported that they had had an interview with the Churchwardens of the Parish of Foleshill and arranged with them for payment of the sum of thirty five pounds for the repairs of the old Workhouse and privilege of removing the Safe Door and that they had entered into an Agreement of which the following is a copy. "It is agreed that the Guardians of the Foleshill Union shall pay the sum of Thirty five pounds for the delapidations at the Workhouse on the giving up possession on Wednesday next and the damage which may be done to the structure by the removal of the Safe. The Guardians not to be called upon to restore Door Ways or other damage which may be unintentionally done by such Removal. Witness our hands this 18th March 1859. John Neale - Deputed Joseph Calloway - Guardians John Stafford - Churchwardens of John Jones - Foleshill Parish Resolved that the arrangement be confirmed and that application be made for the sanction of the Poor Law Board to the payment of the Thirty five pounds. Resolved that the Guardians give the Pauper Inmates of the House a Housewarming Dinner on the occasion of taking possession of the New to be held on the 13th April next and that the Guardians dine with them they paying the Extra expense." The Vicar of Foleshill gave permission to the Guardians to retain possession of the Old Workhouse for a few days without affecting the Notice to quit. Sometimes the inmates were treated better than we realise. Who would have thought that the inmates would have had a Housewarming Dinner

I believe there used to be a workhouse in Hill Street which was in St. Michael's parish in 1724. It was situated in a court opposite St. John the Baptist church and known as 'Workhouse Yard'. Apparently it was a very small workhouse.

Where would I find records of children in the workhouses in Coventry. I have really nowhere to start as the only person who would know details would be my mum who passed away last year. All I have are 2 names. Thank you, Jools.

I would start with the census returns, all the institutions are listed. There was definitely a small workhouse in Hill Street. I have been looking for a map which shows its position but have failed so far. Any help on this would be appreciated.

Death Registers of the Coventry Workhouse [book & 2 fiche] (pub.CovFHS) book+fiche £2.00 + £0.75 Go on line and try this link to the Coventry Family History Society. Regards Derek.

Looking at the burial information for London Road cemetery I keep finding "11 London Road" as the address for the people buried in the graves . A couple of internet articles hint at the possibility that this might be an alternative address for the Workhouse or one of its annexes. Could anyone throw any light on this please?

I agree, it does seem to be quite a common address. I also wondered whether it was simply the address of the workhouse - as family's would probably prefer to have this recorded rather than the dreaded word "Workhouse"? Did family's have a choice? - or was it left in the hands of the kind soul filling in the record books? Hopefully someone can enlighten us.

Of course the workhouse also included the infirmary where people used to go if they could not afford to pay hospital fees. This was the only free hospital until the establishment of the NHS. Several of my relations are shown as dying in there even though they were living in their own homes until they became ill.

Just looking at the year of burials - most seem to be between 1919-1925 and 1937-1946. But not, seemingly, in communal graves. Could it be flu and war victims? But why all the same address - which takes us back to the first post!